PETA and Al Gore

I'm pretty sure I never thought I'd write the above headline for an entry in an eating disorders blog. Yet here it is.

First, a little backstory. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has attacked Al Gore for continuing to eat meat, saying that livestock are more responsible for global warming than the greenhouse gas sources Gore talks about. If he and others would adopt vegan diets, PETA says, they would do much more to help the environment.

Okay. Interesting logic. But then I saw this quote from Ingrid Newkirk, PETA's president:

Given the fact that vegetarians are on average much slimmer than meat-eaters, Mr. Gore doesn’t even remotely look as if he is fond of vegetables, grains and fruit.

Just so completely stunning. I doubt that Al Gore is susceptible to having an eating disorder, but what if he was? And would Newkirk change her tune if she knew the person she was knifing might take her comments as a trigger to begin anorexia or bulimia?

Believe me, I have no idea what's going on behind the eyes of Ingrid Newkirk. Maybe there's good reason for her to use vicious and personal shame to make her points. But I doubt it. Given the tone of her words to other celebrities, she creates the impression that the last group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals cares about is...people.

• See more from Newkirk on Al Gore's meat eating
• How words can hurt enough to start an eating disorder
• And about that vegan diet...is it safe for everybody?